Horbury Town enjoy first victory at Parkgate but Wakefield AFC lose to promotion rivals
Horbury Town followed up their fantastic win over the leaders by picking up a further four points from two games in the NCE Premier Division.
Darren Barnes’ men were 3-1 away winners for the second Saturday running in South Yorkshire as they beat Parkgate.
In between, in midweek, Town were held to a 1-1 home draw by fifth-placed Retford United, but they are unbeaten in five in all competitions going into Tuesday’s league game at home to Golcar United.
And although they still remain down in eighth position they are only two points behind Bottesford Town in fourth and just four behind Barton Town in second.
In the midweek match they trailed at half-time, but Lucas Smith equalised early in the second period and Horbury battled to earn a point against promotion challengers despite having Jay Harris sent-off late on for a pull back.
Onto Parkgate, who are third from bottom, Town went ahead after 34 minutes when George Whittaker curled a fine shot in off the post from the edge of the box.
The hosts hit the crossbar soon after, but Horbury were good value for their one-goal lead at the break.
The result remained in the balance in the second half until Joe Angell came up with a neat finish on 70 minutes after Oli Johnson had been unable to take the initial chance created by Sam Hobson.
Smith put the game to bed with a penalty after he had been fouled and it was only a consolation when the hosts scored late on through Callum Rudd.
"We were very good and we made quite a few changes,” said manager Barnes.
"It was our first double of the season and the first time we’ve won at Parkgate. We’ve hit a good bit of form, we trusted the new 11, people got their starts and stood up to it.
"Things are coming good for us. Twelve months ago we were out of all of the cups and still bottom of the league and you look at us now – we’re only nine points off last year’s tally and we’ve still got 20 games to play.”
Horbury are at home again on Saturday when they take on Thackley.
Wakefield AFC were without a game at the weekend, but were in action in midweek when they lost ground on their NCE Division promotion rivals with a 2-1 home defeat to Goole AFC.
Up against a side with several ex-Falcons in their ranks, Akram Lasalire gave the visitors the lead in the 27th minute and Adam Baskerville doubled their lead six minutes into the second half.
Wakefield kept battling to the finish and Harry Shepherd pulled a goal back, but they could not snatch a late equaliser.
The Falcons are back at home on Tuesday against Appleby Frodingham and host Leeds UFCA on Friday night.